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Water pricing to spur conservation ruled unconstitutional

An Orange County appeals court ruled Monday that San Juan Capistrano's tiered water-rates are unconstitutional, potentially dealing a blow to agencies statewide that have used the pricing structure to encourage people to save water.

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Updated: 10:41 PM PDT Apr 20, 2015

Water pricing to spur conservation ruled unconstitutional

An Orange County appeals court ruled Monday that San Juan Capistrano's tiered water-rates are unconstitutional, potentially dealing a blow to agencies statewide that have used the pricing structure to encourage people to save water.

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Updated: 10:41 PM PDT Apr 20, 2015

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WEBVTT [CAPTIONING SPONSORED BY SLEEP TRAIN MATTRESS CENTERS, YOUR TICKET TO A BETTER NIGHT'S SLEEP!] [CAPTIONING PERFORMED BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE, WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS CAPTION CONTENT AND ACCURACY. VISIT NCICAP.ORG] WE BEGIN WITH A NEW DECISION THAT COULD HAVE THING IMPACT ON WATER RATE IN THE MIDST OF THE DROUGHT. THEY ARE WONDERING IF THEY WILL HAVE TO CHANGE THEIR RATES. THE JUDGE SAID THE TIERED SYSTEM IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL, MEANING AGENCIES CANNOT CHARGE THE BIGGEST WATER USERS MORE MONEY. RICHARD IS LIVE WITH HOW THIS COULD IMPACT YOUR WATER BILL. RICHARD: IF YOU ARE ON THE SIDE OF THE STREET USES MORE THAN THE NEIGHBOR ON THAT SIDE, SHOULD THEY BE PAYING MORE FOR WATER? TODAY'S RULING SAYS NO. OF THAT PERSON IS USING MORE WATER, THEY SHOULD GET CHARGED MORE. IT TURNS OUT ONLY TO THIRD USE A TIERED SYSTEM. THE GOVERNMENT WANTS PEOPLE TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO CONSERVE. THE GOVERNOR RESPONDED WITH THIS. THE PRACTICAL EFFECT IS TO PUT A STRAITJACKET ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT. YOU MIGHT BE PAYING A TIERED WATER RATE. ROSEVILLE USES A TIERED SYSTEM. SACRAMENTO CITY DOES NOT. THE SAN JUAN WATER DISTRICT JUST SWITCH. PEOPLE WE SPOKE WITH TODAY ARE JUST LEARNING ABOUT THE RULING AND POTENTIAL IMPLICATION. DO YOU THINK IT IS FAIR? EXPLAIN. WHY SHOULD HE BE CHARGED MORE THAN ME? I THINK WE ARE ALL GOING TO PAY MORE IF WE USE MORE. I DO THINK YOU SHOULD BE CHARGED A HIGHER RATE. IF THEY ARE FORCED TO CHANGE THE WATER RATES, CUSTOMERS BELIEVE THEY WILL BE FORCED TO MAKE IT UP IN OTHER WAYS. LITTLE TINY LEAKS. FACTS THEY KNOW WHEN THERE ARE LEAKS. THANKS NONE OF THE WATER IT TO USE IN OUR AREA WHAT TO TALK ABOUT THE CHALLENGES OF CHANGING IT. THEY ONLY THAT IT WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT. GULSTAN: THIS SOUNDS DIFFICULT. DID THEY GIVE WIGGLE ROOM? RICHARD: THEY SAID THEY COULD MAKE A TIERED SYSTEM IF IT IS SAFE ON DELIVERY.

Water pricing to spur conservation ruled unconstitutional

An Orange County appeals court ruled Monday that San Juan Capistrano's tiered water-rates are unconstitutional, potentially dealing a blow to agencies statewide that have used the pricing structure to encourage people to save water.